Daily egg consumption in hyperlipidemic adults - Effects on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Limiting consumption of eggs, which are high in cholesterol, is generally recommended to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. However, recent evidence suggests that dietary cholesterol has limited influence on serum cholesterol or cardiac risk.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To assess the effects of egg consumption on endothelial function and serum lipids in hyperlipidemic adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 40 hyperlipidemic adults (24 women, 16 men; average age = 59.9 ± 9.6 years; weight = 76.3 ± 21.8 kilograms; total cholesterol = 244 ± 24 mg/dL). In the acute phase, participants were randomly assigned to one of the two sequences of a single dose of three medium hardboiled eggs and a sausage/cheese breakfast sandwich. In the sustained phase, participants were then randomly assigned to one of the two sequences of two medium hardboiled eggs and 1/2 cup of egg substitute daily for six weeks. Each treatment assignment was separated by a four-week washout period. Outcome measures of interest were endothelial function measured as flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and lipid panel.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Single dose egg consumption had no effects on endothelial function as compared to sausage/cheese (0.4 ± 1.9 vs. 0.4 ± 2.4%; <it>p </it>= 0.99). Daily consumption of egg substitute for 6 weeks significantly improved endothelial function as compared to egg (1.0 ± 1.2% vs. -0.1 ± 1.5%; <it>p </it>< 0.01) and lowered serum total cholesterol (-18 ± 18 vs. -5 ± 21 mg/dL; <it>p </it>< 0.01) and LDL (-14 ± 20 vs. -2 ± 19 mg/dL; <it>p </it>= 0.01). Study results (positive or negative) are expressed in terms of change relative to baseline.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Egg consumption was found to be non-detrimental to endothelial function and serum lipids in hyperlipidemic adults, while egg substitute consumption was beneficial.</p

Cytokeratin 5/6 expression in bladder cancer: association with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis

Abstract Objectives Well differentiated keratinized squamous component as a part of urothelial carcinoma can be easily appreciated; however non-keratinizing squamous differentiation closely resembles urothelial differentiation. In addition prognostic significance of CK 5/6 expression in the absence of apparent squamous differentiation is still unclear. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to evaluate the frequency of CK 5/6 expression in 127 cases of urothelial carcinoma and its prognostic significance in loco-regional population. Results Positive CK5/6 expression was noted in 6.3% (8 cases) and 13.4% (17 cases) revealed focal positive CK 5/6 expression. On the other hand, 80.3% (102 cases) showed negative CK5/6 staining. Significant association of CK5/6 expression was noted with tumor grade and muscularis propria invasion, however no significant association was noted with overall and disease free survival. On the basis of the results of our study we can conclude that CK5/6 is an independent prognostic biomarker in urothelial carcinoma and therefore can be used in the prognostic stratification of the patients with bladder cancer

Androgen receptor expression in endometrial carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathologic features

Abstract Objectives Recent evidence suggests a role of androgen receptor expression as a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in endometrial carcinoma, therefore in the present study we aimed to evaluate the frequency of androgen expression in different subtypes of endometrial carcinoma and its association with clinic-pathologic features. Results 18/89 (20.2%) cases of endometrial carcinoma showed positive androgen receptor expression. On the other hand, low, moderate and high androgen receptor expression was noted in 7/89 (7.9%), 10/89 (11.2%) and 1/89 (1.1%) cases respectively. 15/77 (19.48%) of endometrioid cancers and 3/7 (42.28%) cases of serous carcinoma showed androgen receptor expression; while none of the cases of clear cell or carcinosarcoma revealed androgen receptor expression. No significant association of androgen receptor expression with various clinicopathologic features of endometrial carcinoma was noted. We found that a significant subset of endometrial cancers express androgen receptor especially a serous cancers; therefore we suggest that androgen receptor expression testing should be done in endometrial carcinoma

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) expression in Hodgkin lymphoma and its correlation with clinical and histologic parameters

Abstract Background Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most prevalent lymphoproliferative disorders in Pakistan; however, no risk factors for this disease have yet to be established in our population. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a well-known risk factor for Hodgkin lymphoma in endemic regions of the world; however, frequency of its association in our population has not been widely studied. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a surrogate marker of EBV in Hodgkin lymphoma. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of expression of LMP1 in cases of Hodgkin lymphoma at our institute and its correlation with other clinical and histologic parameters. Methods The study included 66 cases of Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed at Liaquat National Hospital over a duration of 2 years from January 2014 to December 2015. The slides and blocks of all cases were retrieved, and representative blocks were selected for LMP1 by IHC. LMP1 expression of >10% of cells was considered as positive expression and correlated with histologic subtypes and clinical parameters like age, gender, and site of involvement. Results The mean age of patients was 35.11 (+20.22). LMP1 expression was found in 68.1% (45/66) of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma. Mean age of the patients with LMP1 expression was 32.04 (+21.02). LMP1 expression was found in 40% cases of lymphocyte-rich, 66.7% of lymphocyte-depleted, 73.9% of mixed cellularity, 66.7% of nodular sclerosis, and 73.7% of classic Hodgkin lymphoma, NOS. No significant correlation of LMP1 expression with any clinical or histological parameter could be established in our studied patient population. Conclusions A high frequency of expression of LMP1 is seen in cases of Hodgkin lymphoma at our setup comparable to endemic regions of the world; therefore, preventive and treatment protocols should be designed accordingly

Prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) over expression in urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder

Abstract Background Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been shown to have abnormal expression in many human cancers and is considered as a marker of poor prognosis. Frequency of over expression in bladder cancer has not been studied in our population; therefore we aimed to evaluate the frequency and prognostic significance of EGFR immunohistochemical expression in locoregional population. Methods We performed EGFR immunohistochemistry on 126 cases of bladder cancer and association of EGFR expression with tumor grade, lamina propria invasion, deep muscle invasion and recurrence of disease was evaluated. Results High EGFR expression was noted in 26.2% (33 cases), 15.1% (19 cases) and 58.7% (74 cases) revealed low and no EGFR expression respectively. Significant association of EGFR expression was noted with tumor grade, lamina propria invasion, deep muscle invasion and recurrence status while no significant association was seen with age, gender and overall survival. Kaplan- Meier curves revealed significant association of EGFR expression with recurrence while no significant association was seen with overall survival. Conclusion Significant association of EGFR overexpression with tumor grade, muscularis propria invasion and recurrence signifies its prognostic value; therefore EGFR can be used as a prognostic biomarker in Urothelial bladder carcinoma

Immunohistochemical over expression of p53 in head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma: clinical and prognostic significance

Abstract Objective Immunohistochemical over expression of p53 is considered as a marker of poor prognosis in many cancers. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate immunohistochemical overexpression of p53 in 121 cases of head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma and its association with various clinicopathologic features and survival. Results Total 66.1% (80 cases) expressed positive p53 expression, 34% (29 cases) revealed no p53 expression, while focal positive p53 expression was noted in 9.9% (12 Cases). Moreover, high p53 expression (> 70%) was noted in 26.4% (32 cases), while 19% (23 cases) showed 51–70% p53 expression. On the basis of intensity of p53 staining; strong p53 expression was noted in 39.7% (48 cases), while 24.8% (30 cases) and 10.7% (13 cases) revealed intermediate and weak p53 expression respectively. Significant association of p53 intensity of expression with extranodal extension and higher tumor grade (grades II and III) was noted. p53 is useful prognostic biomarker in head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma and therefore we suggest that more large scale studies are needed to evaluate its prognostic significance in our population

Effects of sugar-sweetened and sugar-free cocoa on endothelial function in overweight adults

Studies of cocoa suggest an array of cardiovascular benefits; however, the effects of daily intake of sugar-free and sugar-sweetened cocoa beverages on endothelial function (EF) have yet to be established